Bong Go wins hearts of ‘Wild, Wild East’; commits to help usher Masbate’s progress

PROGRESS FOR MASBATE. Bong Go addresses the people of Masbate during the province’s annual Rodeo festival, the biggest of its kind in the country.

MASBATE CITY --- On his return to the province of Masbate, former Special Assistant to the President and 2019 senatorial candidate Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go committed to help usher progress of the province as he thanked its officials and residents for the warm welcome they gave him.

Masbate has earned the title “Cattle Capital of the Philippines,” and “Home of Philippine Rodeo” when in 1993 a group of ranchers collectively institutionalized the Rodeo Masbateño. The province also became known as the “Wild, Wild, East,” based on the Hollywood cowboy movie “Wild, Wild,West.”

Go graced the 2019 Rodeo Masbateño on Tuesday, held at the Rodeo Grand Arena in Masbate City as guest of honor and speaker. He assured the people of the province that they can always rely on him to help bring their concerns to the attention of President Rodrigo Duterte and his assistance for the benefit of the province.

“Basta pangako ko po ako ang inyong magiging tulay kay Pangulong Duterte. Sabi ko kay Gov. Kho tutulong po ako dito sa Masbate,” said Go.

Masbate is among the provinces that stand to benefit from the Department of Agriculture’s 10-year livestock and dairy development program which seeks to increase cattle production from 2.5 million heads to 5 million.

Among others, the program intends to import 10,000 heads of dual-purpose Girolando heifers from Brazil and 100,000 heads per year thereafter from 2019 to 2022.

Go thanked the people of the province and its officials for their expressions of support.

“Maraming salamat po sa mainit ninyong pagtanggap sa akin dito. Pasasalamatan ko lang po si Gov. Antonio Kho and his wife (2nd District Rep. Elisa Olga Kho). Maraming salamat po sa pagsuporta sa akin,” Go said.

Gov. Kho was among the six Filipino-Chinese governors who pledged support for Go’s senatorial bid in January this year when the former SAP and President Duterte attended the birthday celebration of the Masbate governor in the town of Cataingan.

The former SAP was accompanied in his return to the province by actors Robin Padilla, whom he introduced as the “Bad Boy of Philippine Movies” and Philip Salvador, whom he called the “Playboy of Philippine Movies.”

“Ako naman po ang inyong cowboy,” Go said in jest, earning cheers from the audience. The former SAP likewise reiterated his full support for the programs and policies of President Rodrigo Duterte, particularly the three-pronged campaign against the corruption, criminality, and illegal drugs.

“Ipagpapatuloy ko po ang kampanya laban sa iligal na droga, kampanya laban sa corruption at kampanya sa kriminalidad,” he said.

He said that he wishes to serve the Filipino people with the kind of service he gave President Duterte for over 21 years: with integrity and honesty.

“Minsan lang po tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano pong kabutihan na pwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa gawin na natin ngayon. Marahil po hindi na tayo babalik sa mundong ito,” Go said.

“Wala po kaming ibang hangarin ni Pangulong Duterte kundi kabutihan ng bawat Pilipino dahil mahal namin kayo,” Go said.

Topping Go’s legislative agenda for his Senate bid is his advocacy to improve the delivery of health services in the country, particularly through the establishment of Malasakit Center.

A program of the Duterte administration, the Malasakit Center makes it easier and faster for poor patients to avail of medical and financial assistance from the government by bringing together in one room all concerned agencies such as the DOH, DSWD, PCSO and Philhealth.

The former SAP wants to enact a law to enable the establishment of Malasakit Center in more provinces and key urban centers of the country and ensure continuity of the program even after the term of the Duterte administration.

Other priority concerns under his legislative agenda include; programs for agriculture; housing for the poor; education; long-term sports development; localized peace talks; barangay welfare; creation of a Department of OFW; and improved benefits for senior citizens.